Automatic fire-alarm, burglar-alarm, and telephone system.



G. P. MILLIKEN & F. W. COLE.

E ALARM, BURGLAR ALARM, AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED OGT.16, 1905.

AUTOMATIC FIR Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1',

G. P. M ILLIKEN & F. W. COLE.

. AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM, BURGLAR ALARM, AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED .001. 16, 1905.

904,550. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

R a SHEET.SSHEET 2.

G. F. MILLIKEN & P. W. GOLE,

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM, BURGLAR ALARM,.AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED 0GT.16, 1905.

904,550. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

3 SHEETSSHEE'I{ 3.

d/z'Z/zewea: 50719.-

fmzwi 9??? W @A 7 4 z entrain t'litrtTEts ri tirsrvr o-so'acs r. nittntrw, or BOSTON, as n ranluaaicit it. com, or marrow, MASSACHUSETTS, AssieNoasro GAMEWELL FIRE-ALARM 'rrreornrn COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, n. Y.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-ALARM, BURGLAR-ALAEM, AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed October 16, 1905. Serial No. 282,911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnoaon F. MILLI- KEN and FREDERICK ll". COLE, respectively of Boston and Newton, counties of Suffolk and Middlesex, State of lvlassachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Autoinatic Fire-Alarm, Burglar-i-hlarm and Telephone Systems, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to an. automatic fire and burglar alarm and telephone system; and has for its object to provide the tele-' phone subscribers station with automatic fire alarm and burglar alarm equipment, either-or both, which is connected with the telephone subscrihers line, and to provide the central station with signal-receiving apparatus which is connected with the telephone circuit. and which is adapted to reccive the automatic lire alarm and burglar alarm calls, either or both, in a manner easily distinguishable from each other, the automatic fire alarm and burglar alarm equipment at the subscriber's station and the signal-receiving apparatus at the central station allbeing so constructed and arranged and connected with the telephone line that the proper use of the telephone is permitted at all times without interference.

The invention also has for its objectto' provide the-combined system with means fortesting the circuits and also means for indicating derangements thereof.

Figure 1 shows a. diagram of an automatic tire and burglar a larm and telephone system embodying this invention. Fig. 2- is a diagram showing the electro-nuigrneticallyoperated vibrating circuit opcratiug-dcvicc at the subscribens station with the armature of its electro-lna e'ne't in its attracted position. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing said vibrating circuit operatingwievice with the armature of its o 'ierating electro-magnet in its retractcd position. Fig. 4-

a detail showing one form of thermostat which may be employed as a circuit operatinc-device for the automatic lire alarm. Fin. 5 is a plan View of thesignalreceiving relay, its armature being adjusted to its middle position. Fig.

shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the vibrating circuit ope'ating device, its armature being adjusted to its middle position. Fig. 8 is a side view of the vibrating circuit operating device shown in Fig. 7.

(a and 0 represent two wires of a telephone circuit extending from a central station to a subscribers station. At the central station 0 represents the induction coil, one of the coils of which is connected with a local circuit 0 containing a battery 0?, telephone receiver (1, support a therefor, transmitter 0", induction coil 0, and circuit contacts adapted to be closed by the receiver-support, and the other coil of said induction coil 0' is included in the wire a. The wires a, b are connected to a split plug switch 0 by which they are connected to a circuit wireor loop c", containinga lightbattery 0 telephone hell (1, and generator 0 At the sul'iscribefs station (Z represents the induction coil, d the telephone transmit ter, (Z the telephone receiver, (Z the receiver support adapted to close the circuit contacts (1. (17 the generator, d the telephone bell. and (Z the condenser.

The telephone circuit thus described is adapted to be connected to the battery circuit c", at the central station by the switch plug 1;, and by means of said plug the circuit may be reversed at. will, and at the subscribers station the circuit. thus established. is connected to the opposite sides of the condenser (Z. At the central station a circuitwire e, containing a heavy battery e,'is connected with the battery circuit wire 0, which is adapted to be included. in said battery circuit c" by the closing of a switch 0 onto a contact 9?, and when the switch c is thus closed the bell and generator 'c will be disconnected from said battery circuit 0, and the heavy battery will be included in circuit. in series with the light battery M". The heavy battery is employed essentially for testing purposes, as will be hereinafter described.

A. signal-receiving relay 7 is included in the battery circnitfc" at the central station,

the armature f of which is designed to occupy three different positions, via. 'a middle position. an attracted position, and a re- Gis a side view of the signal-receiving relay. iracted position. Normally, it occupies its thereupon a middle position, being adjusted to,the normal current to occupy such position, and will be attracted by'an increase and retracted by a decrease of the normal current. \Vhen in its middle position it is located between two contacts 7', f both of which are connected with a local circuit 7, containing a local battery f", and any suitable indicating instrument or instruments, as for instance, it may contain a lamp 7' and an annunciator 7", either or both. The signal-receiving relay f, seel igs. l, 5 and 6, is of special construction, particularly adapting it for the purposes of this invention, and herein shown the cores 7" of the magnet coils f are rigidly joined together by a heel piece and a screw 7" extends from said heel piece, which passes through a smoothbored hole in a post 7' and receives upon its projecting end an adjusting nut f and a check nut P. A strong spiral spring f is interposed between the post and heel piece,-the tendency of which is to thrust the heel piece and cores and magnet coils supported ,by'it away from the post. The relay is thus. adjustably mounted on the post f. In front of the magnet coils f, the two cores f project through holes in a plate 7, which is stationarilysupported, and at the outer side of this plate the armature f is placed which is pivoted at f, and which extends across the ends of the cores f projecting through the plate, and its lower or free end occupies a 1 position between the front and back contacts f f. The upper or rear end of the armature f is formed with an extension f upon which a pressure device bears which is designed to exert a Slight but continuous pres sure upon the armature, and said pressure, device'consists of an arm f" secured at one end to a block 7', which is pivoted at f to the plate 7", or other stationary support, said arm beang a pair of hemisperical engaging blocks 7'', which are'adjustably mounted upon it, so as to be moved independently along on the arm toward andfrom the pivot thereof, and which are adapted to bear upon the extension 7" of the armature. The pres--= sui'edevice 7 different pressures upon the armature, as for instance, at the middle position of the arma-- ture both blocks f" will engage the ar'n'iature, but when the armature is moved on its pivot in a forward direction the" block farthest from the pivot of the armature will engage the 'armature, and exert thereupon a very strong pressure, and when the armature is moved on its pivot in a backward direc tion the block nearest the pivot of the armature will engage the armature and exert weak pressure, and these pressures which are exerted will be varied according to the positions of the blocks on the arm". Another arm extends from said blocle f F, to the extremity ofwhich one end of aserves to exert essentially two tension spring f is attached,;.-thc opposite intermediate or middle position between the two contracts f The signal-receiving relay f is responsive, to signals transmitted over the telephone circuit by suitable signaltransmitting apparatus which is'provided at the subscribers station, and which, when connected with the telephone circuit, as hereinshown, or substantially so, does not in any way interfere with the operation of the telephonic instruments.

,At the subscribers station a signal wire 2' is provided, which consists of a loop, the endsot' which are connected to the telephone circuit at opposite sides of the condenser 1Z so that said signal wire 2' forms a partof the telephone'circuit, and when connected therewith a closed battery circuit is formed. One end of said signal wire'z' is herein shown as connectedto the telephone wire at the bell d, and the other end at the receivcr-support 1!, at which point a switch is provided for opening the circuit whenever the receiver is removed from its hook. 'lhis switch consists of an arm 2 formed on thc receiversupport (1, which extends downward, and is adapted to close upon the circuit contacts '5 "15, the contact 1'" being connectedwith the signal 'wire I, through a vibrating bell magnet i and the contact 2'" being connected to a local circuit 1'" containing a local battery 2"", the back contact, armature and magnet ot' the vibrating bell and a hand switch F. \V'hen the subscriber uses the telephone the signal circuit is automatically opened by the arm 2" disengaging the contacts 2' 2". hence no interruption of the telephone service can occur while telephone communication be ing carried on.

By means of the closed battery circuit. c", a, b, 2', it isherein designed to transmit two different signals or two classes of signals,

, viz. an automatic fire alarm and a'burglar alarm signal, and to properly distinguish them from-each other; also to test the circuits, and if found to be closed, to indicate the same by a different signal; and furthermore, to provide for indicating the fact of any increase in the normal current, due to eliminating any resistance; and, to accomplish all ofthese results without interfering with the telephone system.

The automatic fire alarm signal is transmitted by means of a vibrating circuit operatlng-device, which is adapted to repeatedly open and close the circuit, and the armature of the signal-receiving relay f is responsive to the action of said vibrating-circuit operating-device; and the said vibrating circuitoperating-device is controlled by any one of several circuit operating devices, such, for instance, as thermostats, or manually operated switches, or both. The burglar alarm signal is transmitted by means of a circuit operating-device which is adapted to simplv break the circuit, and upon the ocurrence or such an alarm the armature of the "relay f simply retracts. Thus the two signals are distinguished at the central station by the armature of the relay f rapidly vibrating upon the reception of the fire alarm and simply retracting upon the reception of the burglar alarm.

The test signal transmitted by means of the vibrating circuit operatingdevice which switches local circuits into the main circuit and thereafter repeatedly short circuits the magnet which operates it, and it all the circuits are closed the vibrations transmitted will be recognized by a distinct hum over the telephone circuit, and if the local circuits are open at such time then said device will transmit a regular vibrating call, as every time the local circuit is cut intothe main circuit the telephone circuit will be opened. These test signals will be heard on the telephone receive as a distinct hum or vibration as the case may be. The test naling-device is operated by including a heavy battery in the circuit, which materially increases the normal current, or by eliminating resistance from the circuit, both of which produce like results. The same vibrating circuit-operating-device is employed for transmitting both the automatic fire alarm signal and the test signal, although it operates the circuits in a ditferent manner, so as to be distinguishable at the central station. vice is operated by an electroanagnet n, herein termed the signaling magnet, and said electro-nuignet is included in the closed battery'circuit. and for all practical purposes will be included in the signal wire 2' near the condenser The signaling-magnet '11, which serves as I n I the means tor operating thevibrating cirui't'wopcrating-device, has its armature n.

arranged to occupvthrcc dillerent positions, viz. a middle position. an attracted position, and a retracted positiombeing-z ljustcd to the normal current to normally occupy its middle po -:ition. and to be attracted i an increase in the normal current and to be re tra ted by a break in the circuit.

The signaling nuignet n is c mstrurted similar to the sigmal-re civing r lay f. see l igs. 1,7 and S, and :uliustably mounted The vibrating circuit operating deon post a). The front ends of the cores of the two n'iagnet coils project through holes in a plate a whereby they are supported, and can be moved longitudinally by the adjusting screw it. The armature n is pivoted to ears projecting from plate u? at n, and extends across the ends of the cores and it has a rear and extension at one side of its pivot, which acted upon by a compound pressure-device comprising a pair of hennspherical engaging blocks m 'mounted adjust-ably on an arm iii-" secured to a block a pivoted at n to the plate n and from. said block an arm 115" extends, to the extremity of which one end. of the adjustable tension spring is attached. This compound pressure-device exerts upon. the a unature two diiierent tensions; at its central position both blocks n engage it, but torward of such-position the block farthest from the armature will engage it, exerting a very strong tension, while in backward position the block nearest the armature pivot will engage it thus exerting a weak tension. The armature a has secured to it a spring acting contact pen n", which is attached to a block it of insulating material on the plate a,

and which is connected to the telephone wire a. The armature it also bears a contact a, at. its extremity, which is adapted to engage a contact at the extremity oi a spring acting pen a, which is also secured to said block if" of insulating material, opposite the block a, and which is connected to the telephone wire 71, and said pen u bears a contact,. at a point intermediate its length, which is adapted to engage a contact a" on the block a". The arn'iature it also bears a contact which is adapted to engage a spring acting pen 11 which is connected to a plate 115", which is secured to said block 11"" of insulating material and which is connected With a circuit wire n; and said armature also bears a contapt, which is adapted to engage a contact a, which is borne by the plate 7LT), to which said circuit wir'e n) is connected, and which is connected by a circuit wire '11, with the circuit wire J at. the remote side of the signaling magnet.

A branch wire j, preferably a loop, is pro vidcd at the subscribens station, which extends along in parallelism with the signal wire 1', either the entire length or for such armature is retracted, see Fig. 3, the contact which is secured to the block a on said arand are connected together at their over-' mature a.

When the armature occupies its normal or middle position, see Fig. 1-, the pen a engages the contact a on the armature, and also engages the contact a, on the block it; and when the armature is attracted, see Fig. 2, the extremity of said pen n will be held in engagement with the contact a and the contact if on the armature will be disengaged from the pen a; and when the a will engage the pen n, and said pen will disengage the contact a Also, when the armature occupies its middle position, Fig. l, the pen i engages the contact a on the block a, and also engages the contact 111'" on the armature, and when tl 3 armature is attracted, Fig. 2, said pen a will he disc-in gaged from the contact it", but will remain in engagement with the contact lb and when the armature is retracted, Fig. 3, said pen it will remain in engagement Willi the contact 11, but will disengage the contact n When the armature occupies its middle position, see Fig. .l, neither the pen NIT .nor Contact a are engaged by it, but when attracted, Fig. 2, the contact it" will be engaged by it, and when retracted, Fig. 3, the pen n will be engaged by it. 'lhcrei'ore, with the armature oi. the signaling magnet in its normal or middle position, the signal circuit from wire a at one side of the condenser is as followsz n a, a, through hell (6" to 2', including the signaling magnet 11, thence through hell magnet i" and switch i 2' to the wire 0, at the opposite side ol the coiulcnser: and the branch wire or loop is as t'ollo\\'s:--u, n, n", 21?, y, n, 11.", n3. Thus, at such time. the branch wire will be represented as a closed loop, both ends of which are connectei'l to one of the telephone wires at the same side oi. the condenser.

The branch wire j is made as, a closed loop particularly for testing purposes, as for signaling pm'poses'only, it may be made merely as a branch wire leading from one of the telephone wires or from the signal wire, as for instance it may lead from the pen n parallel with the wire :1, as far as desired,

and instead of being connected to the armalure a, may he left with an open end. The branch wire j, in any event, will include 'all that portion of the signal circuit containing the thermostats. which serve as the circuit operating-devices for the automatic fire alarm, or the manually operative fire sta tions. Y v

The thermostats may be of any suitable construction, and as shown in Fig. 4, they consist essentially of a. pair of arms or, on, one of which is pivoted to a shell or case hi and the other is attached to a block m of insulating nnitcriat secured to said shell or case m, and said arms overlap each other i lapping portions by fusible solder oreqnivalent material, which is adapted to melt at a low temperature, and binding posts in are attached to said shell or case towhich the signal wire is connected, and Wires connect said binding posts respectively with the arms, so that the arms are included in the wire and said ase contains a contact In beneath one of said arms, and when the two arms become separated, by the melting of the fusible connection, one of them falls upon said contact mi. The contact at is connected to the branch wire j, and whenercr the thermostat operates the signal wire i will be opened by the separation of the arms, and then the arm farthest from the signalingmagnet n, will fall upon thecontact. In and close a cross between the signal wire 1 and the branch wire j, and thereby t'lt, -L the circuit through the branch wire. lipon tlllis breaking the circuit by the separation ot the arms in, m, the armature n of the signaling magnet n will retract, see Fig. 3, opening the contacts a), 12 and closing the contact 12 and the circuit at such time will be as t'ollowsz-a, a, a", n, bell magnet 1, 2', through signaling magnet 12, a, it, a, armature n, 77L2,"//L, i, to b, at. the receiver support. The. circuit thus established being complete the armature of said signaling magnet n, will be attracted and will open the circuit at n. and thereupon the armature is caused to rapidly \ibrate. This vibration, which repeatedly opens and closes the circuit, causes the signal-receiving relay f to correspondingly yihrate its armature, and "thus give a distinct signal, which is not produced in any other way. The local circuit at centralcontrolled by therelay f will be operated coi're-:pondingly. causing the annunciator to drop and the lightto flicker. A manua switch 5' is also included in the signal circuit wire 2' which is adapted to open said circuit when desired, as the burgla' alarnrmay not he needed at day time, but when the circuit is opened by said switch the fire alarm can still be transmitted by the thermostats, The central oflice is presumed to have been notified before opening the circuit by the switch a, so that the operator shall have disconnectcd the backcontact of the relay f, to thereby prevent the burglar alarm signal being operated.

The circnit-operating-devicc for the barglar alarm is made as a circuit breaker, as for instance, it. may be composed of a pair of contacts 0, adapted to be separated by the opening oi. a door Z: or Window Z1 Many forms of circuit operating-devices adapted to break the circuit, may be substituted for the contacts 0.

The burglar alarm-signal therefore consists merely in a break in the circuit 2', and

when it occurs, the armature of the signalreceiving relay f at the central station will retract and close 'rhc local circuit thercat, and thereby operate the indicating instrument included in or adapted to be operated said local. circuit. It a cross occurs on the circuit in such manner as to exclude a resistance, as for instance if it should exclude the resistance coil 2'), which is located at a remote part of a circuit, then the normal current will be correspondingly increased and the armature of the signal-receiving relay, f will be attracted, and likewise operate the local circuit. Either or both causes must be interpreted as a burglar alarm to he immediately investigated. It a local alarm or indicator is red at the subscribers station, which shall respond to a burglar alarm, a mechanical gong of any suitable construction may be provided, the releasing lever t of which is adapted to be engaged by the armature a of the signaling magnet, and whenever said armature is retracted, as it will be by a break in the signal circuit, due to any of the aforesaid causes, said gong will be released, and permitted or caused to operate. Furthern'iore, if desired, a lamp circuit, as if, may be provided at the subscribers station which is normally open and adapted to he closed by a switch operatcd by said releasing lever 15. .\s herein shown, said switch consists of a switch arm I on the releasing lever 1, which designed to engage contacts t 2", to close the lamp circuit. Above the releasing lever 25 a hand operated cam f is provided, which may be turned into and out of position to engage the lever and lock it against movement on its pivot. The dotted lines Fig. 1. represent said cam when turned to engage the lever.

A telephone call .2111 be given by the usual hand generator which gives an alternating current to be received by a polarized bell c a}. central station. lllcncc the three signals viz. the tire alarm, burglar alarm and telcphone signals, are all distinguishable, one from the other.

To test the signal circuit as well as the branch wire j which is connected therewith, the I envy battery c, at the central station,

is connected in circuit. in series with the light battery c". by operating the hand switch and the armature oi the signaling magnet 11 will be attracted, see Fig. 2, by the increase in the normal current, and during the first part of the movement of the armature from its normal or middle position to its attracted position, the branch wire or loop j will be included in and form a part of the signal circuit, as follows :a, n, a, a", 7', a, n, a, if, 2', F); and during the latter part of the movement of said armature the contact a" will be engaged and the circuit will then be as follows: a, n, '12:", 91?, j, n, n, a

Any break in the closed 'r-ircuit established during the first partof the movement of said armature, that is to say, after it. has disengaged the contact '12. and before it has engaged the contact a, which would manifestly he in the closed loop j, would be notedimmediately by causing the armature oi the sigaling magnet to retract a-nd'to rapidly vibrate, and correspondingly vibrate the armature oi? the receiving relay f. In order to be sure that the armature of the signaling magnet responded to the action of the heavy battery, said armature, when fully attracted, will engage the contact a. after it has caused pen a to disengage the contact 11". This will close a shortcircuit around the signaling magnet. signaling magnet -n will then vibrate rapidly through a. small distance. or hum, and this sound will be reproduced andbe distinctly heard at the central station through the telephone receiver thereat, thus giving positive evidence that the entire circuit including the branch wire or loop is complete, and that the signaling magnet is in proper working condition. In case of a cross from the signal circuit 7'. to the bunch wire or loop j, the signaling magnet it will be short circuited throughthe connection to the line at a, '17, made with the armature in its normal or middle position, and said armature will then immediately retract from its normal or middle position. and in so retracting will open this short circuit, by opening these connections, causing the magnet to again attract its arn'iature, which will then continue to hum while said cross remains, and which hum can be heard at the central station through the telephone receiver.

A. switch 50 may be provided for discon- 'i'iecting the burglar alarm circuit, or both the fire alarm and burglar alarm circuits. whenever desired, the central oilice having had this notification of the operation of said switch. The vibrating hell 1 has its back contact connected with the local battery circuit i and when the main circuit is closed the armature of said magnet will he held in its attracted position, but when the main circuit breaks, then said armature will retract and close upon its back contact, and thereby close the local circuit, and at such time said armature will rapidly vibrate, and said vibration will continue until the main circuit is again closed and may be used as av local alarm for telephone calls when the fire alarm circuit is closed. The local circuit 2" may be opened by the switch i The door I: of the house at the substation may be provided with a magnetic lock, and as herein shown 7 represents a polarized electro-magi'iet for said lock and 7c its armature. The polarized electro-niagnet Z included in the circuit wire 2', and when the current passes through the magnet in one direction the armature IE will prevent the The armature of said' in the care of the central station, as for instance, during regular hours of the day. This also prevents a person from accidentally or unnecessarily operating the alarm by opening the door, or it might be a win- (low,- while the alaruiis set.

Having thusdesc'ribed, .iny invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent i s:-

LA normally closed electric circuit'connecting a central station with a subscribers station, having at each station telephonic equipment, a branch wire leading from said circuit at the subscribers station, circuit operating-devices connected with said circuit. and with the branch wire, adapted to open the circuit, and to connect it with the branch wire, other circuit operating-deviccs-adapted to open said circuit, only, a vibrating-circuit ope 'ating-devicc for repeatedly opening and closing the circuit,incans for operating it responsive toany one of the first named circuit operating devices, and a signal-receiving relay at tliecentral station, the armature of which vibrates in response to the action of said vibrating circuit operating-de'vicc, and retracts in response to the action ofthe other circuit operating devices, substantially as described.

2. Anorinally closed electric circuit connecting a central station with a. subscribers station, having at each station telephonic equipment, a b anch wire leading from said circuit at the subscriber's station, circuit operatingdevices connected with said circuit and with the branch wire, adapted to open the circuit and to connect it with the branch wire, other circuit operating-devices adapted to open said circuit only, a signaling magnet in the circuit rcspoi'isive to any one of the circuit operating devices, means operated by said magnet for repeatedly opening and closing the circuit and for opening the circuit only, a signal receiving relay at the central station, the arn'iature which vibrates in response to the repeated opening and closing of the circuitby said signaling magnet, and retracts in response to the opening of the circuit only by said signaling magnet, substantially as described.

3. A normally closed electric circuit. connecting a central station with a subscribers station, having at each station telephonic equipment, a branch wire leading from said circuit at the subscribers station, circuit op erating devices connected ,with said circuit and with the branch wire, adapted to open the circuit and to connect it with the branch wire, other circuit operating-devices adapted to open said circuit only, a. signaling magnet in the circuit responsive to any one of the circuit operating devices, means operated by said magnet for repeatedly opening and closing the circuit and for opening the cirtral station, the armature of which vibrates in response to the repeated opening and closing of the circuit by said signaling magnet, and retracts in response to the opening of the circuit only by said signaling magnet and a local alarm at the subscribers station operated by said signaling-magnet, substantially 'as described.

t. A. normally closed electric circuit connecting a central station with a subscribers station, having at each station telephonic equipment, a branch wire leading from said circuit at the subscribers station, circuit operating-devices connected with said circuit and with the branch wire, adapted to open the circuit and to connect it with the branch wire, other circuit operating-devices adapted toopen said circuit only, a signaling magnet in the circuit responsive to any one of the circuit operating devices, means operated by said magnet for repeatedly opc 'i'ing andi closing the circuit and for opening the'cirt al station, the armature of which vibrates in response to the repeated opening and closing of the circuit by said signaling magnet, and retracts in response to the opening of the circuit only by said signaling magnet, and a .local alarm at the subscribers station operated by the retracted armature ofsaid sig naling magnet, substantially as described. I

A telephone circuit connecting a central condenser and other telephonic equipment, and a battery, a signal circuit connected to said telephone circuit, at opposite sides of the condenser, to form a closed battery circuit, a branch wire leading from said signal circuit at one side of the condenser, circuit operating-devices connected with said signal circuit and branch wire, adapted to open the signal circuit and to connectit with the branch wire, other circuit operating-devices adapted to open said circuit,a vibrat.iiig-circuit operating-device for repeatedly opening and closing the circuit, means for operating it, responsive to any one of the first named circuit operating-devices, and a signal-receiving relay at the central sta tioin'the arinature of which vibratesin response to the action of said vibrating circuit operatingdevice, and retracts in response to the action of any one of the other circuit operating-devices,substantially as described.

necting a central-station with a subscribers equipment, a signaling magnet in said circuit at the subscribers station, a branch wire magnet, circuit operating-devices connected w th said circuit and with the branch wire for opening said circuit and for connecting cuit. only, a signal receiving relay at the cen station with a subscribers station, having a 61 A normally closed electric circuit constation having at each station telephonic cuit only, a signal receiving relay at the cen-' I leading from said circuit at one side of said it with the branch wire to thereby operate the signaling-magnet, means operated by the retractingarmature of said sigi'inling-nnignet for disconnecting the branch wire from. the circuit at one side of the magnet and for connecting it therewith at the opposite side of the magnet to thereby include the magnet in the circuit Whenever one of the circuit operating-devices operates. and a siguni-receiving relay atthe central-station responsive to the action of said signalingmagnet, substantially described.

'YQA telephone circuit connecting a cen tral station with a subscribers station, having a condenser and other telephonic equipment, :1 signal circuit connected to said telephone circuit at opposite sides of the condenser, a signaling magnet in the signal circuit, a branch wire leading from the signal circuit at one side of said magnet. circuit operating-devices connected with said signal circuit and branch wire, adapted to open the signal circuit and to connect it with the branch wire, to thereby operate the signaling magnet. 111821115 operated by the retracted armature of said signaling magnet for disconnecting the branch wire from the signal circuit, at one side of the n'iagnet, and for connecting it therewith at the opposite side of said magnet, to thereby include the magnet in circuit, whenever one of the circuit operating-devices operates, and a signal-receiving relay at the central station responsive to the action of the signaling magnet,

.35 substantially as described.

8. A normally closed battery circuit connecting a central-station with a subscribefsstation having at each station a telephone transmitter and receiver and other tele- 40' phonic equipment, circuit operating-devices at the subscribens station, a signal-receiving relay atthe central-station responsive to the action of said circuitoperating devices. an electro-n'nignet at the subscribers station,

means for holding the arnmturc of said magnet partially retracted against the influence of the normal current. a heavy battery at the central station, means for including it in circuit to attract said armature,

and means operated by the attracted armature for closing a short circuit around the magnet whereby said armature is caused to' rapidly vibrate, substantially as described.

9. A telephone circuit connecting a contral-station with a subscribeNs-station having a telephone transmitter and receiver at each station and having a condenser and other telephonic. equipment and also having a battery, a signal-circuit connected to said telephone circuit 'atopposite sides of the condenser, circuit-operating devices in the closed battery circuit thus formed, a signalrccciving relay atithe central-station re- HI HHISiYO to the action of said circuit-operating devices, an clectro-niagnet in the battery adapted to be repeatedly closed by its atpeatedly including the magnet in circuit .circuit at the subscriber's-station, means for holding the armature of said magnet partially ret'acted against the influence of a normal current, a heavy battery at thecentral'station, means for including it in' circuitto attract said armature, andmeans operated by the attracted armature for closing a short circuit around the magnet whereby said armature is caused to rapidly vibrate, substantially described.

10. An electric circuit, circuit-operating devices, a vibrating circuit-operating device havingan electro-magnet for operating it to repeatedly open and close the circuit which is responsive to said circuit-operating devices, means for holding the armature of said electro-magnet partially retracted against the influence of a normal current, a signal-receiving relay responsive to said vibrating circuit-operating device, atelephonereceiver in said circuit, a heavy battery, means for including it in circuit, and a short circuit around said electro-magnet adapted to be repeatedly closed by its attracted armature. when the normal current is increased, substantially as described.

11. An electric circuit, circuit-operating devices. a vibrating circuit-operating device having. an clectro-magnet for operating it to repeatedly open and close the circuit which is responsive to said circuit-operating devices, means for holding the armature of said electro-magnet partially retracted against the influence of a normal current, a signalreceiving relay responsive to saidvibrating circuit-operating device, a telephone-receiver in said circuit, a heavy battery, means for including it in, circuit, and a short circuitaround said electro-magnet tractcd armature when the normal current is increased, and other circuit-operating devices in said circuit foropening it to which said signal-rcceiving relay is also responsive, substantially as described.

12. An electric circuit and a signal-receivingrelay and a telephone-receiver included therein, a signaling-magnet in the circuit. in ans for holding its armature partially retracted against the influence. oi the normal cu rent, circuit-operating devices for opening the circuit permitting the armature of said magnet to fully retract, means operated by said retracted armature -For rewhereby the armature is caused to vibrntc rapidly. a heavy battery. means for including it in circuit to increase the normal current and thereby'cause said magnet to attract its armature. and means operated by .the attracted armature for repeatedly including the. magnet in circuit. substantially as described.

1?). A normally closed electric circuit connecting a central station with a snbscribers adapted to whereby said armature is caused to whenever the normal current is increased, 3

and the retracted armature of which closes a circuit through said magnet, armature is caused to vibrate rapidly and repeatedly open and close the circuit, anda signala'ec'eiving relay at the central station,

the armature of which vibrates in response to the repeated breaks in the circuit, a heavy battery at the central station, and means for including it in described. w

14. A normally closed electric circuit concircuit, substantially as necting a central station with a subscribers station having at each station a telephone transn'ntter and receiver and" other telephonic equipment and containing a battery,

:1- closed loop connected to said circuit at the s'ubscribees station, a' signaling -magnet, means for holding thearmature thereof partially retracted against'the influence of the normal current, a circuit operating device open the circuit and to connect it with the loop to thereby cause the armature of said magnet to fully retract, means operated by said retracted armature for repeatedly operating the circuit, a heavy battery and means for including it in circuit to cause said magnet to attract its armature, a normally open short circuit around said magnet adapted to be repeatedly closed by said att acted armature, and a signal-receiving relay at, the central. station, the armature of which vibrates in response to the breaks in the circuit, substantially as described;

15. A telephone circuit connecting a central station with a subscribers station, containing at each station a telephone transmitter and receiver and other telephonic equipment, and containing a battery and a condenser, a signal circuit connected to said telephone circuit at opposite sides of the 0011- denser, a closed loop at the subscribers sta tion connected to the circuit atone side of the condenser thereat, circuit operating-do ,vice connected-with said circuit and with the loop, fadapted to open the circuit and to connect it with the loop, a signaling magnet in the circuit, the attracted armature of which closes a short circuit around said magnet, vibrate rapidly whenever the normal current is increased, and ithe retracted armature of which closcsa'circuit through said magnet, whereby said armature is caused to vibrate rapidly whereby said signal-receiving relay and repeatedly open and close the circuit, a signal-recelvmg relay at the CGIItIHlSiLtltIOJl the armature of which. vibrates 111 response to the repeated breaks in the circuit, a heavy battery at the central station and means for including it in circuit, substantially as described.

16.13, normally closed battery circuit connecting a central station with a subscribers station having at each station a telephone transmitter and receiver and other telephonic cquipment, circuit-operating devices at the subscribers station, an electro-magnet at said station responsive .to the action of said circuit-operating devices, means for holding the armature of said magnet partially retracted against the influence of the normal current,a normally open short circuit around said magnet adapted to be repeatedly closed by the armature when the latter is attracted by an increase in the normal current, a signal-receiving relay in said circuit at the central station, means for holding the armature thereof partially retracted against the influence of the normal current, said relay being responsive to the action of the armature of the electro-magnet at the receiving station when retracted by thecircuit-operatiug devices and when attracted by an increase in the normal current, substantially as described. I

17. A telephone circuit connecting acentral station ith a subscribers station, hay-' ing a condenseiyand other telephonicequipment,.and a battery, a signabcircint consides of the condenser, to form a closed battery circuit. a branch wire leading from said signal-circuit at one side of the condenser, circuit operating-devices connected with said signal circuit and branch wire, adapted to open the sigmil-circuit the branch wire, other circuitoperating-devices adapted to open said circuit, a vibrat ing-circuit operating-device for repeatedly opening and closing the circuit, means for operating it, responsive to any one of the first named circuit operating-devices, and a g at the central station, the armature of which vibrates in response to the action of said vibrating circuit operatingwlevice, and retracts in response to the action of any one of the other circuit operatingdevices, and means operated. by removing the telephone from its supporting hook for disconnecting the signal-circuit from the telephone circuit, substantially as described.

18. A closed electric circuit containing a source of energy and a magnet, an independent circuit, and means control-led by the forward motion of the armature of said magnet to connect said circuits in series, substantially as described.

19. An electric circuit containing a source of electricity and a magnet, an independent and to connect it with 'nected to said telephone circuit, at opposite v semen circuit and means controlled by the forward 1 names to this specifieationgin the presence 0f motion of the armature of said magnet to tWO su g Wltnessesr cennect thehcircuits inlseries snlll a; shunt GEQRGE E MILLIKEN clrcnlt for t e magnet a so contlo ed by the FREDERICK W COLE armature and whleh W111 be closed around said magnet after the independent circuit is l Witnesses:

intnoduced, substantially as described. B. J. NoYns,

In testimony whereof, we have signed our 7 H. B. DAVIS. 

